Greenfield's Elena Pirozhkova to wrestle Saturday for first time since Olympics

David Molnar | The RepublicanElena Pirozhkova, right, needs to win two matches in the U.S. Women's World Team Wrestle-off to earn a spot in the FILA Women's World Championships.

By PAUL D. BOWKER

Greenfield’s Elena Pirozhkova will wrestle Saturday for another trip to the world championships.

A first-time Olympian this year, Pirozhkova needs to win two matches in the U.S. Women’s World Team Wrestle-off that will take place Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Because she is an Olympian, Pirozhkova, 25, is the only freestyle wrestler to advance directly to the best-of-three championship series against an opponent to be determined Saturday morning through a challenge series.

Pirozhkova will compete at her Olympic weight, 63 kilograms/138.75 pounds. She has wrestled in the last four FILA Women’s World Championships, winning the silver medal in 2010 and placing fifth in 2011.

The 2012 International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) Women’s World Championships will be held Sept. 27 through 29 in Strathcona County, Alberta, Canada.

Saturday’s competition is Pirozhkova’s first since losing to Anastasija Grigorjeva of Latvia in the opening round of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Aug. 8. In qualifying for the Olympic team, Pirozhkova went unbeaten at the U.S. Olympic trials.